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Woman rescued on high-tech ‘mountain-bike stretcher’ deployed by WSAR from Table Mountain, Cape Town
A high-tech stretcher which uses a rugged mountain-bike-type wheel has carried a woman hiker to safety off Table Mountain in Cape Town. Dedicated teams of professionals and volunteers from Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) ferried a 54-year-old Cape Town woman after she fell from a hiking trail on Thursday afternoon, 29 December 2022.
The woman had been walking on the Pipe-Track above Camps Bay when she mis-stepped and fell from a narrow section trail, injuring herself. Her friends and family were able to help her back up to the trail but she was unable to continue. A call was made to the emergency contact number and WSAR team members were immediately dispatched. She was assessed and treated on scene before being packaged into a stretcher. The team made use of the Terra-Tamer, an exceptionally light weight, obstacle-crushing all-terrain wheel that fits beneath a stretcher. This system allows teams to move patients significantly faster over difficult terrain, ensuring shorter stretcher carries. Once off the mountain, she was driven home by her hiking companions. According to a spokesperson for WSAR, David Nel, “This incredible piece of equipment has made a significant difference to wilderness rescue in the Western Cape and we are extremely grateful for the generous donations that made this purchase possible. The wheel has been used repeatedly over the past few months and we’ve seen the difference this piece of equipment has made. Patients are moved from mountain to ambulance significantly faster and difficult carries can be accomplished with fewer rescuers.” Photos: Tim Lundy Source: Wilderness Search and Rescue (WSAR) |
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